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6 

la 


}/    jh /■s' 


No.  220. 


FAITH  OF  THE  UNITARIAN  CHRISTIAN 


EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED.  &  DISTINGUISHED. 


IThls  tract  i,.  r^r^^n.  ..raa.eou.so  ^^i^^^^^^^^. 
the  Unitarian  Church  in  Montreal,  Cana.  a  on  «-^=^y'^^^^^^^^  ^uis 
It  W.S  an  occasion  of  more  than  u.ual  m.er    .,  in™  th  ^^^^.^^^ 

was  the  first  ..use  of  pnhlic  -^^^^^^^'^^iZ^J^,  .„d  from  ti.e 
devoted  l,y  name  .o  the  services  "J  y-;;'^",,' rogation  to  secure 
prosperity  which  had  crowne  ^T^^^"^.^..  truth.  The 
for  themselves  a  permanent  ='^'"'"'""='"°"„  „„^  .  i,,,  ,, est  situations 
house,  neatly  and  durably  built  and  -^'^    "f  J    of  Ut^  b         ^^^,^  ,, 

in  the  ei.y.  bespeaks  the  '-1^>''"'  '^""^'^  /e Vf '  h^^^^^^^^^^  It  has 

was  erected,  and  cannot  but  attract  the  ""';;  fj„„,i=„  „«  which 
been  thought  not  improper  that  tl>e  alius  on    to  J    °ccj>  « 
the  discourse  was  delivered  .hould  be  retained  in  this  tract.] 


BOS  T  O  N  t 
PBiKTED   BV   T..UHST0N-,  TORHV   4    EMEaSOS, 

31,  Devonshire  Street. 


THE 


FAITH  OF  THE  UNITARIAN  CHRISTIAN. 


qA  at  ihc  dedication  of 
Sunday,  May  l'/'^''^- 
from  the  fact  llm;  llus 
or  in  British  America, 
ian  faith,  and  from  tlie 
congregation  to  secure 
■  Christian  truth.  The 
ne  of  the  hcst  situations 

•  the  society  hy  w*"'^'' '' 
of  the  stranger.  U  has 
o  the  occasion  on  which 
n  this  tract.] 


ft   EMCaSOKi 

t. 


2  CowXTniAiis  iv.  13. 

WE  HAVI.no  the  same  SPIUIT  OK  FAITH,  ACCORDING  A3  IT  IS 
WRITTEN,  I  nEMEVKIl  AND  THEItEKOIlj;  IIAVO  I  SPOKEN;  WE 
ALSO    BELIEVE,    AND    THERKFOUE    SPEATt. 

We  have  assembled  to  dedicate  a  building  to  t'no  uses 
of  Christian  worship.  It  is  not  an  iinu.sual  occurrence  in 
this  city.  Yet  it  can  never  take  place  without  interesting 
many  hearts,  and  cltiniinir  some  attention  from  a  commu- 
nity who  wi.sli  that  good  morals  and  Scriptural  piety 
should  prevail  among  them.  Some  measure  of  sympathy 
even,  it  might  be  thought  on  the  naked  statement  of  the 
purpose  for  which  we  have  met,  would  be  felt  by  such  ns 
should  learn  that  another  edifice  would  now  be  added  to 
the  number  of  those  which  arc  designed  to  extend  and 
deepen  the  influence  of  religion,  in  a  metropolis  abound- 
ing with  the  temptations  of  secular  engagement  and 
worldly  pleasure.  But  there  is  this  peculiarity  in  our 
present  dedication,  that  most  of  the  citizens  of  this  place 
probably  look  with  unkind  or  doubtful  regards  upon  the 
services  which  we  celebrate.     Many  good  people  would 


'^9mm»«mm 


THE    FAITH    OP    THE    UNITARIAN    CHRISTIAN 


114 


115 


account  it  a  duty  rather  to  discourage  than  toj-'-^  j^^ 
enterprise  of  which  this  structure  remmds    hem.  and  ol 
the  successful  prosecution  of  which  it  affords  an  ind.ca- 
on    in  tnn   assurance.     Crowds  of   ignorant  though 
on  s    and  yet  other  crowds  of  ignorant  and  d.si,onest 
^0     .  ani  still  others   whose  preiudice  or  oppos.Uon 
cannot  seek   a  shelter  hohind   tho.r  ignorance    as  they 
-  bok  In  these  walls,  will   find  no  pleasure  in  the  sigh  . 
They  who  have  built  this  house  have  studied  no  concea  - 
JlZ    They  have  placed  upon  its  front  the  word  •'  Unita- 
ry .ou^  it  he  o,.nsi..n^yeye^^^^ 

"^The  circumstances  under  which  we  have  entere    th  se 
doors,  seem  therefore  ^^  <^f -"'"^^^'^ '^X       ^  ' 

in  such  a  step,     w  nen  uiwrc  =ocietv 

of  public  worship  in  which  the  members  of  this  society 
ii't  have  Ibund  opportunities  of  relig.ous  service,  and 
To  m  ny  other  names  under  which  they  might  have  ar- 
an.ed  themselves  in  the  division  of  the  Christian  force^ 
whv  have  they  thought  it  necessary  to  erect  a  sanctuary 
Teangh    distinctive  name  What  is  the 

•Z  t  of  this  name  T  What  are  the  reasons  for  adopting 
T Id  what  are  the  differences  which  ,t  indicates  be- 
ween  the  worshippers  here  and  those  who  gather  around 
Tr  «lMrs7  These  are  questions  that  naturally  arise  , 
i  ina  llring  til  I  believe  that  I  shall  more  directly 
Teet  the  wants  f  f  the  present  hour  than  if  shou^  dis- 
course  of  the  propriety  or  the  character  of  Christian 
worship  in  general. 


aiSTIAN 


114 


n  to  assist  the 
n  them,  and  of 
)rd3  an  indica- 
Tnorant  though 
and   dishonest 
!  or  opposition 
irance,   as  they 
ire  in  the  sight, 
icd  no  conceal- 
e  word  "  Unita- 
!8,  and  by  some 
.  title  of  "  Chris- 
?ame  inscription, 
ive  entered  these 
;ourse  of  remark 
The  dedication 
British  America 
I  justify  ourselves 
any  other  houses 
•s  of  this  society 
rious  service,  and 
y  might  have  ar- 
j  Christian  f'.>rces, 
erect  a  sanctuary 
,n1     What  is  the 
asons  for  adopting 
;h  it  indicates  be- 
vho  gather  around 
It  naturally  arise  ; 
shall  more  directly 
an  if  I  should  dis- 
icter  of  Christian 


115       EXPLAINED,    JUSTIFIEU,    AND    OI8TINGUISHED.  5 

According  to  my  ability,  then,  would  I  speak  on  these 
[joints  —  the  truths,  the  justifications,  and  the  differences 
of  Unitarian  Christianity  ;  —  by  inv'-fation  front  this  soci- 
ety, but  not  with  any  authority  except  such  as  belongs  to 
honest  private  conviction,  and  a  somewiiat  large  acquain- 
tance with  the  opinions  entertained  by  other  Unitarian 
believers  here  and  elsewhere.  They  have  no  accepted 
creed  which  I  may  quote,  no  formularies  of  faith  nor 
symbolical  books  which  they  recognize  as  containing  the 
only  accredited  exposition  of  their  views,  and  no  ecclesi- 
astical body  from  which  such  an  exposition  might  ema- 
nate. The  right  and  duly  of  personal  inquiry,  which  are 
the  elementary  principles  of  liieir  religious  B'.ale,  preclude 
any  attempt  to  utter  other  than  private  persuasions  or  the 
impressions  which  a  wide  and  careful  obsevation  may 
have  given.  Such  observation  will  lead  any  one  to  a 
knowledge  of  certain  great  doctrines  which  are  held  in 
common  by  Unitarians  in  America  and  in  Europe,  and 
will  show  that  they  accord  in  respect  to  the  grounds  of 
their  belief,  and  in  their  dissent  from  many  popular  rep, 
resentations  of  the  Gospel. 

What  are  the  truths  of  Unitarian  Christianity  ?  What 
do  Unitarians  believe?  This  is  the  first  question,  and  it 
is  one  which  thousands  might  ask  under  a  profound  igno- 
rance even  of  the  nature  of  the  reply  that  would  be  given. 
So  little  pains  have  been  taken  to  learn  what  we  really 
hold  as  truth,  and  so  great  misapprehension  prevails,  that 
the  simplest  statement  of  our  faith  may  not  be  out  of 
place.  We  believe,  then,  in  God,  as  the  Supreme,  Per- 
feet,  and  Infinite  Being,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
Author  of  all  life.  Source  of  every  blessing.  Searcher  of 
hearts,  and  Judge  of  men.  We  believe  in  his  universal, 
VOL.  XIX.  —  NO.  220.  !• 


I 


6  THE    FAITH    or   THE    l.NITAUIAN    CHUISTIAN         116 

constant,  and  righteous  providence,  through  whicl>  alone 
Ihe  frume-work  of  the  creation  and  the  processes  of  an.- 
.nate  and  inaninmte  existence  are  sustained.    We  behevc 
i,.  bis   moral   government,  which    ho   exercises  over  al 
Ueincs  endowed  with  intellectual  or  moral  capacities  and 
c     a.  it  is  rightfully  exercised,  so  is  inllex.hly  adm.n- 
Ulered.     We  believe  in  his  paternal  character,  u.  wh.ch 
ho  h.s  been  pleased  to  reveal  himself  to  our  adm.ration 
and  love;  a  character  which  never  shows  hmi  lo  us  as 
12   indulgent  or   capriciously  tender,  but  as  always 
ZuZn.  Witt  his  own  perfections  while  full  oi  p.renta 
regu.d  towards  n,en.     We   belu-ve  in  the   re.pm.iu.ns  of 
duty  which   he  bus  pron.ulgated.  by  which  are  laid  upon 
!!,  L  ohl...-,tions  of  outward  and  inward  r.gh.cou.sness. 
;„dit  is  mide  incun.benl  on  us  to  cultivate  purUy.  clevo- 
,ion   disintereHledness.  and  the  baru.onious  expan.u>n  o 
our  Mature,  that  the  result  may  be  an  excellence  wh.ch  shall 
eound  to  the  glory  of  God.     We  believe  m  h.sn.rcy 
which  enables  him,  without  in.pair...g  the  mtegrny  o 
government  or  subvertu.g  the  origu.al  condu.ons  of   us 
favor   to  fur.Tivo  .he   peuite.it  M..ner   and   ad.a.t    he  ro- 
::  d    oul  t;  an  inhentance  of  eternal  life.     We  be  .eve 
Tn  his  revelations,  which   he   has  made  by  those  of  old 
.es  who  spake  as  they  were  moved  ^y  ^^^  »'"  J  J'-';.- 
Moses  and  the  Divinely  insp.red  teachers  of  the  Jc^^.sh 
Iple,  and  in  a  later  age  by  Jesus  Chr.sMhe  bon  ol  h 
fov    aid  the   Messenger  of  his  grace.     We  bel.eve  that 
God  .s  one  in  every  sense  in  which  the  term  can    e  a  - 
nlied  to  him -one  in  nature,  in  person,  m  character,  .n 
SaL;  and  therefore  we  are  UnUarians^     We  be  .eve 
hat  Jesus  was  the  Christ -the  Ano.nted  and  Sent  of 
God   whose  truth  he  proclaimed,  whose  authority  he  rep- 


TABIAN    C1IKI8T1AN  11« 

jtice,  Ihrough  which  alone 
I  and  the  processes  of  nni- 
iire  8ustnirie<l.  We  believe 
ich  hu  exercises  over  all 
lal  or  moral  capacities,  and 
aed,  80  is  intlexibiy  udmin- 
jternal  charncter,  in  which 

himaeir  to  our  adiniralion 

never  shows  him  to  us  as 
lusly  tender,  but  as  always 
:liona  while  full  of  purcntal 
ilieve  in  the  reipiisilions  of 
led,  by  which  are  laid  ujron 
I  and  inward  righteousness, 

us  to  cultivate  purity,  devo- 
he  harmonious  expansion  of 

be  an  excellence  which  shall 
We  believe  in  his  mercy, 
impairing  the  integrity  of  his 
le  original  conditions  of  his 
,t  sinner  and  admit  the  re- 
:  of  eternal  life.  We  believe 
i  has  made  by  those  of  old 
•e  moved  by  the  holy  spirit  — 
jpired  teachers  of  the  Jewish 
y  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  his 

his  grace.  VVe  believe  that 
in  which  the  term  can  be  ap- 
re,  in  person,  in  character,  in 
e  are  Unitarians.  We  believe 
_  the  Anointed  and  Sent  of 
limed,  whose  authority  he  rep- 


117      KXPLAINBD,    JUSTiriKD,    AND    DISTINOUISHBD.  7 

resented,  whose  h.vo  ho  unfolded ;   and  therefore  we  are 
Christians.     We   bolieve  tliui  Jesus  Christ  came    on  a 
special  mission  to  our  world  —  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to 
save  the  sinful,  and  to  give  assurance  of  immortality  to 
those  who  were  subject  to  death ;  that  such  a  Teacher 
and  Redeemer  was   needed  ;  that  ho  spake  as  never  man 
spake,  lived  as  never  man  lived,  and  died  as  never  man 
died.     We  read  the  history  of  his  life  with  mingled  ad- 
miration  and  gratitude.     We  are  moved  by  his  cross  to 
exercises  of  faith,  penitence  and  hope.     Wo  rejoice  in  his 
resurrection,  and  celebrate   him  as  Head  of  his  Church, 
the  authoritative  Expounder  of  the  Divine  will,  the  fault- 
less Pattern  of  the  Christian  character,  the  Manifestation 
and  Pledge  of  the   true  life.     We  believe  that  man  is  a 
Uii  and  responsible  being,  cnpnblf  <>f  ri-ing  to  MiccntiHivo 
heights  ot  virtue,  or  of  falling   into  deeper  and  deeper 
degradation;  that  sin  is  his  ruin,  and  faith  in  spiritual 
and  eternal   realities  the  means  of  his  salvation;  that  if 
he  sin,   it  is  through  choice  or  negligence,  but  that  in 
working  out  his  own  salvation  he  need.s  the  Divine  assis- 
tance.     We  believe  that  man,  in  his  individual  person,  is 
from  early  childhood,  through  the  force  of  appetite,  iho 
disadvantage  of   ignorance  and  the  strength  of  tempta- 
tion, liable  to  moral  corruption  ;  that  social  life  is  in  many 
of  its  forms  artificial,  and  in  many  of  its  influences  inju- 
rious; and  that  both  the  individual  and  society  must  be 
regenerated  by  the  action  of  Christian   truth.     We  be- 
lieve that  all  life,  private  and  public,  all  human  powers 
and  relation       ''  thought,  feeling,  and  activity,  should  be 
brought  unL  r   ne  control  of  religious  principle,  and  be 
pervaded  by  Christian  sentiment.     We  believe  that  piety 
is  the  only  sure  foundation  of  morality,  and  morality  the 


.„(S-j^J...,',i.fl... 


I 


8         TUB  FAvni  or  tiik  vnitarian  .iiribtian      118 

needed  evidence  oi  pioty.     Wc  bol.ovo  thai  '  perfccion 
Lnweakuos-  through   progress'  is  -ho   Uw  of  l.fo  f.  r 
,„an;  and  thui  .hi.  law  en  ho  kept  only  wh.ro  «n  hum- 
ble heart  in  joi...«d  w.th  a  r.  .oh.to   n.ind   and   «n  earno.l 
faith.     Wobolicve  that  men  .houhl  lo»e  and  serve  one 
Ither.  while  all   love  tho   Ueav.     y  t'uthor    and  lollo. 
rLordJesu.   toaconuuon^Uy.     We  lud.eve  u.   m- 
,„„,.  immortality,  and  a  ri«h.oous  retrd.ut.on  after  dea  h  ; 
when  th,.y  who   have  lived   in   ubed.ence  or  have  reco  ■ 
ciled  thelelve*  to  Ood  through  nincero  repontnnce  Bhull 
enter  upo.  a  nobler  fruU.on  ot  lilo.  whde  they  who  have 
been  dilobedient  and   impenitent  bI.hII  real./e  the  con.e- 
nuencesof  their   folly  in  Mmme  and  .ulTermg.     V\e  be- 
r.ve  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old    and  New  I'eHtamen  s 
a,  containing  the  authent.c   record-  o,  Uods  wonder  u 
„..d  gracious  ways,  seen   in  the  history  of  Ins  ancont 
"ople.  and  in  the  n.iraculous  works  and  D.v.ne  teachu,gs 
IsLs   and   h.s  Apostle.,  and    to  '''-,«-'7-- 
api>cal  as  the  decisive  authority  up.m  ,,uest.ons  of  fa  th  o 
duty    interpreting  them  in  the  devout  exerc.se  of  that 
;  L  thrlugh  wh.ch  alone  we  are  capable  of  rece.v.ng 
rco.,;munica,ion    fro.n    Heaven.     We    bel.eve  j     h. 
Christian  Church,  as   a  consequence  ot  the  labor,  at^d 
.off  r  ng«   by   which  Christ    has  gathered    unto  h.n.self. 
outof  iny  nuions  and  communions,  ••  a  pecd.ar  pco- 
p,o."  en.br;cing  his  Uos,>el  and  cherish.ng  h.s  sp.r.t -■ 
L  Church  on  earth,  with  its  ministry.  .t»  ord.nances  and 
its  responsibilities,  the  anticipation  and  prom.se  of  the 

Church  in  heaven.  r>i   •  .• 

Such  are  the  pron.inent  truths  of  Unitar.a..  Chr.sl.an. 
i,y  I  conceive,  us  held  by  those  who  adopt  tins  name  a. 
ti  designation  of  their   faith,  and  who,  however  they 


I 


ARIAN    rllHIBTIAN 


118 


110     r.jci'i.AiNKii,  jcrnnr.n.  am»  ninriN«nriniiRi». 


0 


bcliovo  ihal  '  pcrfecliun 
,  •  iii  Mu!   Ibw  of  lifo  for 
kept  only  wluro  nu  hum- 
to  iiiinil   and  «n  earnest 
wiiUl  lo»o  and  Bcrve  one 
vt"  ly  Fiillior,  »nd  follow 
jU.ry.     VVu  believe  in  Im- 
18  relril>"tii)i»  "l^*?'  tloalli ; 
oboiliunco  or  hnvo  recon- 
li  Hinccro  repontnnce  shnll 

life,  while  ih«'y  who  have 
lit  Dhall  rcolizo  the  conoc- 
.•  luid  ciinVrinK.     Wc  be- 
JUl   and  New  Testamenls. 
•cord«  ol  Uod  H  wonUrriul 
the  history  of  his  ancient 
,vork»  and  Divine  teachings 
m\   to  these  Scriptures  wo 
y  upon  questions  of  faith  or 
10  devout  exercise  of  that 
Ko  are  cnpnblo  of  receiving 
iven.     Wo    believe    in    the 
s.cjucnco  of  the  labors  and 
has  giilhered   unto  himself, 
nmunions,  "  a  peculiar  pco- 

and  cheiishing  his  spirit  — 

ministry,  its  ordinances  and 
ipntion  and  promise  of  the 

ulhs  of  Unitarian  Christian- 
1080  who  adopt  this  name  as 
ith,  and  who,  however  they 


may  di^Jiarro  on  (|i>e»ti«m«  of  inf«ri«.r  niomrnt,  would 
prolmbly  concur  in  llii!»  exhibition  of  the  nrtirli-s  of  their 
belief. 

And  now  what  nct»d  is  there  ihitwe  -thmild  enter  upon 
a  vindifiition  or  defence  of  such   a   f.iiibf     I)(m-!«  it    not 
carry  its  own  jnMificntion  in  tlie  clerncnls  of  .vliich  it  is 
com|K>ni<d  f     Doe;*  it  not  wmnd  rij^ht  ?      '>ocs  it  not  look 
rii^hi  t     linn  it  not  llio  asjiect  and  savor  of  iniili  1     l>»)0« 
not  reason  iipprove,  and  Scripture  rtnnciion  it  f    Wr  can  an- 
swer thcso  tpiestions  in  but  one  way.   We  are  srilisfied  that 
ours  is  a  correct  failh,  of  which  we  need  not  be  a-.ihaniod, 
but  in  which  we  may  glory  before  men,  and  by  which  wb 
may  hope  to  obtain  eternal  snlviition.     Yet  to  many  ears 
and   eyes  it  wears  a  suspicions   character.     It  is  not  the 
popular,  the  prevalent,  the  "  Drthodox  "  faith.     tSiriciiy 
nrthoiloT,  as  we  contend,  empliatically  Kvanj;i'lical,  these 
titles  are  deemed  inapplicable  to  it  by  most  of  the  Chris- 
tian denominations  by  which  we  are  surrounded.     They 
account  it  as  at  Iwsl  grievously  defective,  if  not  radically 
unsound.     We  are   tiriven   therefore  to   the  necessity  of 
provin);j  that  we  hold  the  essential  and  sullicieiit  truths  of 
religion.     And  I  must  now  proceed  to  give  such  o  reply 
as  the  lime   will   permit  to  the  secontl  question  we  pro- 
jMised  to  answer — what   are  the  grounds  on  which  we 
rely  for  the  justification  of  our  belief  f 

First,  I  rcinark,  it  finds  justification  in  our  nature  ;  na 
both  the  capacities  and  wants  of  this  nature  pronoum  <  in 
its  favor.  Let  me,  however,  aniicipate  here  an  objeeiion, 
with  which  we  are  familiar,  —  that  the  acceptableness  of 
our  views  of  religion  to  a  depraved  nature  is  a  pr(H)f  of 
their  falseluwd.  It  is  not  of  the  tastes  of  a  depraved 
mind  or  the  tendencies  of  a  corrupt  heart  that  wo  speak, 


10  THE    FAITH    OP   THE    UNITAUIAN    CHRISTIAN 

but  Of  inherent,  indeslruclible  characteristics  of  the  na- 
u  e  which  God  has  given  us.  and  of  necessitie.  >.  ich 
arise  out  of  the  constitution  imposed  by  our  Ore  o. 
The  human  being  and  the  Christian  re'.g,on  came  rom 
the  same  Source.  They  must  be  su  ted  ,o  one  ano  e. 
for  Christianity  was  intended  by  its  infin.te  y  w.  AuU.r 
to  meet  the  exigencies  of  human.ty.  Unless,  therefore 
le"    o-^niso  a  Correspondence  between  our  rehgton  and 

::;..at,:re.we  conch.de  ».-'--«-'.  ^7"-^%:! 
defect.  0  performance  of  h.s    grac.ous   des  g  s      Is 
this  to  "  charge  him  foolishly  "  and  ungratefully  ? 

O    the  cap;cities  which  consciousness  reveals  to  us  le 
t,s^  lect  two%one  of  which  marks  us  as  rat.ona    and 

the  other  as  religious  beings;  for^«  «- ^  '  ^^J^^ 
1 7    r.f  rpr.friou'i    as  of  intellectual  exercises. 
:r::::jt     lt::l^tcuUy;andletite.an.^^^^^^ 
t':':^  wliich  we  have  ^ust  repeated.     ^  there  one  w^.ch 
it  would  not  approved     Not  one.  we  -"^  f^^'y/J^^^^, 
There  is  nolhin?  here  at  which  reason  need  be  or  would 
he  :.oncled,  nothing  at  which  it  must  <'  -^^^'^^ 
from  which  it  must  turn  away  in  contempt.     If  th  .  seem 
but  sn^all  praise  to  h.Mow  on  a  religious  system    It  -be 

rcmemh.ved  .hat  as  "n-^>  ""^^  ^^f   1/   «^s  ory 
olo.y  in  the  Christian  world.   As  wo  look  ove   «1« history 
of  ;  Vinion  in  the  Church,  we  esteem  it  "«  shg     reco- 
mendation  of  the  views  which  we  entertain,  that  they 
rrmonizo  with  the  conclusions  to  ^vbich  -son  is  b.ug 
hv  a  study  of  the  works  and  ways  of  God,  and  tne  con 
St  t  t  r  ml  situation  of  man.     But  farther,  not  only  is 
e  c  la  tide  of  our  belief,   when  separately  considered 
such  a   reason  may  accep.  without  injury  to  its  preroga- 
v^  of  distinguishing  between  what  is  wortny  and  what 


Mni.iiiin,BnniJi'''.'^ii>J" 


ITARIAN    CHRISTIAN 


120 


121        EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED. 


11 


characteristics  of  the  na- 
I,  and  of  necessities  which 

imposed  by  our  Creator, 
iristian  religion  came  from 
St  be  suited  to  one  another, 
by  its  infinitely  wise  Author 
manity.  Unless,  therefore, 
0  between  our  religion  and 
inst  God,  imputing  to  him  a 

gracious    designs.     Is  not 
"  and  ungratefully  1 
^iisciousncss  reveals  to  us  let 
h  marks  us  as  rational,  and 
s  ;  for  no  one  will  deny  that 

as  of  intellectual  exercises, 
ally ;  and  let  it  examine  the 
jpcaled.  If  there  one  which 
[  one,  wo  confidently  affirm. 
,ich  reason  need  be  or  would 
;h  it  must  "  stand  aghast,"  or 
ay  in  contempt.  If  this  seem 
,n  a  religious  system,  let  it  be 

cannot  be  said  for  all  the  the- 
1.   As  we  look  over  thn history 
m  esteem  it  no  slight  recom- 
rhich  we   entertain,  that  they 
ions  to  which  reason  is  brought 
nd  ways  of  God,  and  the  con- 
man.     But  farther,  not  only  is 
f,   when  separately  considered, 
:c' without  injury  to  iu  preroga- 
ween  what  is  worthy  and  what 


unworthy  of  reception,  but  there  is  no  contradiction  or 
inconsistency  between  these  articles.  Each  finds  support 
in  every  other,  and  each  gives  support  to  all  the  rest;  yet 
not  through  an  artificial  arrangement,  but  from  the  har- 
mony that  always  prevails  among  the  dilfercnt  poi lions  of 
truth;  which,  like  the  disjoined  members  of  a  perfect 
figure,  when  brought  together,  are  seen  to  belong  to  each 
other.  Now  we  cannot  but  value  our  faith  for  this  sen- 
tence of  approbation  which  reason  is  compelled  to  pass 
upon  it,  for  we  do  not  believe  that  revelation  was  intended 
to  put  such  an  affront  on  that  faculty  which  was  the 
greatest  previous  gift  le  Creator  to  man,  as  would  be 
implied  in  disregarding  its  decisions. 

If  now  we  turn  to  the   religious   element   in   human 
nature,  we  find  that  it  demands  just  such  opportunity  of 
exercise,  such  encouragement,  guidance  and  help,  as  are 
presented  to  it  in  the  exhibition   we  have  made  of  the 
Divine  character  and  of  the  relations  of  the  Supreme  Being 
to  his  children  on  earth.  Where  shall  piety  find  an  Object 
to  whom  it  may  rise,  even  from  the  dust,  in  grateful  con- 
fidence, if  not  in  the  Father  whom  it  is  our  privilege  to 
portray  in  terms  which  we  think  authorised  by  his  chosen 
Messenger?     Again,  the  moral  is  intimately  associated 
with  the  religious  part  of  our  constitution;  whence  shall 
this  draw  instruction  so  suitable  and  adequate,  at  once  so 
tender  and  so  stringent,  as  from  the  exposition  we  give  of 
duty '!     How  can  the  conscience  be  quickened  to  a  fnith- 
ful  performance  of  its  work  more  directly,  than  by  the 
language  we  use  respecting  the  obligation  of  personal 
righteousness  ?     Or  what  motives  can  be  addressed  to  the 
will  more  persuasive,  than  those  which  are  embraced  with- 
in our  representations  of  the  dependence  of  honor  and 
happiness,  both  here  and  hereafter,  upon  character  1 


12  THE    FAITH    OF    THE    UNITARIAN    CHBI9TIAN         122 

So  doc«  the  Gospel,  as  interpreted  by  Urutari.n  believ- 
er8,  justify  itself  to  the  capacities  of  our  being.    But  there 
are  L  deep  .ants  iu  this  nature  of  ours  -;-«^;^;!;; 
religion  alone  can  relieve.    It  is  needed  for  the  protection 
of  our  frailty,  for  the  satisfaction  of  our  best  desires,  fo 
the  comfort  of  our  sorrows;  and  in  respect  to  the  demands 
.vhich  each  class  ..f  these  wants  makes  upon  a  true  relig- 
ion   Unharian  Christianity  fulfils  the  conditions  rcquirtd 
of  U      How  it  assuages  tne  grief  of  the  mourner  by  us 
revelations  of  Divine  love,  of  spiritual  disciphne.  and  future 
blessedness,  or  how  it  offers  to  our  purest  desires  tests 
factions  which  God  and  heaven  alone  can  give,  needs  no 
S'lion.     I   will   only  speak  of  the  necessities  wich 
follow  upon  the  exposure  of  such  a  nature  -  this  wl  ich 
«ei«he!it  to  the  incidents  and  "'«"---/;'  ^f^^^ 
life      The  consequence,  as  we  see,  is  sin  ;  no\because  we 
:  naturally  wicked,  but  naturally  weak      We  need   o 
be  kept  from  falling  by  means  of  truths  which  sha  1  «t  nd 
around  our  souls  like  heavenly  guards  ;  -^^j)^^' ^^^^^ 
withstanding  their   presence,   we   have  fallen,  we  need 
;tdly  voiL  that  shall  save  us  from  «i-l.a ^n    -- 
us  to  our  former  position.     Others  may  regard  t  .    a   t,,e 
last  claim  which  we  should  presume  to  urge  in    avo    of 
ou    interpretation  of  Christianity,  but  we  do  not  hesitate 
°o  assert  in  its  behalf,  that  it  is  preeminently  suited  to 
„e     1 1    wants  of  man  as  a  frail  and  sinfu   being ;  ahke 
a"  it  reveals  to  him  the  origin,  and  the  remedy  of  his  state^ 
ells  him  that  he  is  a  sinner,  because  he  chooses  to  be 
on      t  sets  before  him  theguiltof  such  voluntary  estrange^ 
Zu    from  God,  and  it  opens  to  him  the  conditions  of  a 
Ircy  large  enough  for  the  greatest  of  sinners.     Behold 
Terthat^union  of  reproof  and  pity  which  must  be  most 
effectual  for  the  end  which  it  contemplates. 


ITARIAN    CHRISTIAN         12^ 

preted  by  Unitarinii  believ- 
fesofour  being.    But  there 
ureof  ours  — wants  which 
is  needed  for  the  protection 
ion  of  our  best  desires,  for 
id  in  respect  to  the  demands 
Its  niakes  upon  a  true  relig- 
Ifiis  the  conditions  rc(iuired 
grief  of  the  mourner  by  its 
piritual  discipline,  and  future 
3  our  purest  desires  the  satis- 
,en  alone  can  give,  needs  no 
ak  of  the  necessities  which 

such  a  nature  as  this  which 
and  influences  of  an  earthly 
,e  see,  is  sin  ;  not  because  we 
uturally  weak.     We  need  to 
,8  of  truths  which  shall  stand 
>nly  guards  ;  and  when,  iiot- 
B,   we  have  fallen,  we  need 
•e  us  from  despair  and  restore 
3lhers  may  regard  this  as  the 
d  presume  to  urge  in  favor  of 
lianity,  but  we  do  not  hesitate 
t  it  is  preeminenily  suited  to 
ifrad  and  sinful  being;  alike 
in,  and  the  remedy  of  his  state, 
iner,  because  he  chooses  to  be 
ruilt  of  such  voluntary  estrange- 
'ens  to  him  the  conditions  of  a 
,e  greatest  of  sinners.     Behold 
r  and  pity  which  must  be  most 

it  contemplates. 


123        EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED,  13 

The  lime  does  not  allow  me  to  expand  this  argument  aa 
I  could  desire.  Its  importance  entitles  it  to  consideration  ; 
for  as  in  the  material  creation  the  wonderful  adaptations 
which  we  discover  bespeal^  a  Divine  Author,  so  the  admi- 
rable fitness  of  the  religion  of  the  New  Testnment  to  the 
beings  for  whom  it  was  given,  is  a  proof  of  its  superhuman 
origin,  which   has  been  justly  insisted  on  by  Christian 
wrUors,  hut  the  full  force  of  which  can  be  felt  only  where 
the  true  features  of  the  revelation  are  discerned.  Whether 
on  the  one  hand,  we  look  at  man  as  a  being,  the  intellect- 
ual,  social  and   spiritual  elements  of  whose  constitution 
require  culture,  or  on  the  other  hand,  as  a  being  whose 
appetites  and  infirmities  call  for  means  of  restraint,  or 
again,  as  a  being  whose  history  includes  that  terrible  fact 
of  sin  which  gives  a  new  aspect  to  all  his  relations,  and 
creates  a  before  unknown  class  of  wants,  the  most  urgent 
which  he  can  feel,  we  perceive  in  the  truths  and  influences 
of  our  faith  just  that  supply  of  direction,  assistance  and  re- 
deeming grace  which  is  needed.     His  intellect  finds  the 
loftiest  exercise  alike  for  its  discursive  and  its  meditative 
powers ;  his  social  afTcctions  are  led  forth  to  the  happiest 
results  by  the  constraint  of  that  law  of  love  to  which  they 
are  subjected  ;  his  spiritual  faculties  obtain  the  freedom 
and  elevation  which  they  crave ;  his  animal  propensities 
are  placed  under  the  discipline  of  an  habitual  self-denial; 
his  infirmities  receive  aid  or  admonition  as  they  may  re- 
quire; and  for  the  evils  which  sin  has  brought  upon  him 
provision  is  made,  equal,  and  more  than  equal  to  all  the 
necessities  of  which  it  has  become  the  fruitful  source. 

But  I  must  leave  any  further  illustration  of  this  point,  to 
notice  a  second  ground  of  confidence  in  our  theological 
statements.     They  are  founded  upon  Scripture.    Wc  take 
VOL.  XIX.  — NO.  9,20.  a 


THE    FAITH    OF    THE    UNITAUUN    CHniSTUN 


124 


14 

,      n-M        iTninrian  Chrislianily  is  the 
our  faith  from  the  Bible.     Unilar  an  v.n 

every  page,  and  wc  nn  .        ii,_   u  is  common, 

Wo  repel  .he  eta-ge  a,  v,hol     ";■  J  ;^^ ',„.,  „  „„  . 

„„„,  or  .he  '"-^ '«  »- t  ;  ,,tu.  r».o,  fton,  begin. 

,„,e  f'»'"^7"-^/^  Ji^  \„ue„  .l».e  work,  -e  jus. 

°'"'  -^  It  iu.e  ™  *■„  sWe  of  .he  A.l»n.ie,  h».  re- 
now   m  great  repme  o  ., „,:„„!  noint  is  a  poor  com- 

„,arked.  in  a  sentence  >y  huse  ;h«3;\P;;;:\^  ,/,  ,„,,hy 
pensation  for  its  audacious  f.dse.^.t  to  ^^^^^ 

member  ot  the  Umtanan  or  ^  ^^^^^  ^.,,„,,,  ,f  ,,e  Old 
a  man  must  be  prepared  to  re  ec^n     j^^.^^^.h^ 

rrOld  ^1— ;  •     O^^hrpage  of  the  Hebrew 
of  the  Old  Te  tam«nt.  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^,„^ 

Scriptures  .s  here  ^  '"V  Divine  Nature  T  Where 
than  the  absolute  ^-^^^'^^Jj ^^^^  ,,,  ,i,tory  of  the 
ftom  Moses  to  M^  adu  -  wher  ^  .^^  „^,,,y  __  i.  .here 
creation  to  ^he  la  t  vvo-r  persons,  or  that 

an  intimation  that  God  exists  '"         J^i^^^^^^ed  no 

c,,.  .as  -;;t::i!rnVur.e!:wh^^^ 

^^-  "^  nrer'r  n:::  t:^  Ty  tr  person  lading 
10  every  other  book  ui  ii  foUo^ed  in  the  perusal 

claim  to  intelligence  or  ^^^^  > 't  ght  thence  which 
of  the  Bible  not  a  passag    ^an    e  b  o  g  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^_ 

„,ilitates  wuh  our  faith         Thewh        if  there  be  a  col- 
^ent "  must  be  "  rejected !        When   i  ^^^^^ 

lection  of  Unitarian  writings  on  earth,  it  .s 


ITAUIAN    CUB18T1AN         U* 

ilarian  Christianity  is  the 
nent.  We  find  it  there  on 
nothing  which  suggests  to 
Divine  will.  It  is  common, 
nofrejoicing,  and  to  charge 

treatment  of  the  Scripture. 
y  false.  It  is  upon  the  testi- 
t  we  plant  ourselves,  as  on  a 

is  in  our  favor  from  begin- 
vriter,  whose  works  are  just 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  has  re- 
hetoricalpointisapoorcom- 
sehood,that"tobeaworthy 

rather  Socinian  community, 
reject  nine-tenths  of  the  Old 

the  New!"     "Nine-tenths 
n  what  page  of  the  Hebrew 
,at  asserts  any  other  doctrine 
he  Divine  Nature  ?     Where 
vhere  from  the  history  of  the 
)f  Jewish  prophecy  — is  there 
isu  in  three  persons,  or  that 
g  1    The  Jews  discovered  no 
nturies  in  which  they  were  the 
red  books.     And  if  the  pnnci- 

which  are  observed  in  regard 

world  by  any  person  laymg 

B8ty,be  followed  in  the  perusal 

can  be  brought  thence  which 
The  whole  of  the  New  Testa. 

1 '-     When,  if  there  be  a  col- 
s  on  earth,  it  is  what  has  there 


125        EXl'I-AINED,  JUHTIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED. 


15 


been  given  us  by  Evangelists  and  Apostles.    I  wish  not  to 
use  cautious  or  equivocal  language  on  this  subject,  for  we 
have  a  right  to  speak  in  the  most  positive  terms.     The 
whole,  (I  make  no  exception  of  a  tenth  or  a  twentieth  part,) 
the  whole  of  both  the  Old  and  New  Testament  must  be  mis- 
construed to  yield  any  other  than  a  Unitarian  interpretation. 
Does  any  cne  demand  proof  of  this  declaration,  so  bold, 
I  am  aware,  as  it  may  be  esteemed  by  others,  but  so  ob- 
viously true,  as  it  appears  to  us?    The  proof  could  be  fur- 
nished in  detail  only  by  examining  every  text  in  the  Bible. 
To  such  a  trial  of  tlie  correctness  of  tlie  assertion  we  shall 
always  rejoice  to  see  it  subjected,  but  this  is  not  the  time 
for  such  an  investigation.     I  can  only  remark,  that  we 
place  a  two-fold  leliance  on  the  support  which  Scripture 
gives  to  our  views  ;  first,  as  its  general  tenor  is  clearly  and 
strongly  in  their  favor;  and  then,  as  particular  passages- 
numberless  in  amount— confirm  the  impressions  which 
we  derive  from  the  prevalent  complexion  of  thought  and 
style  of  expression.     Let   an    unbiased   reader  take  up 
the  Bible  for  the  first  time  and  peruse  it  carefully,  without 
commentary  or  friend   near  him  to  suggest  what  it  ought 
to  mean,  and  the  conviction  would  grow  stronger  upon  him 
as  he  proceeded  from  writer  to  writer,  that  they  knevir 
nothing  about  Trinitarianism,  or  many  other  doctrines 
which  we  have  discarded  from  our  theology.     Let  him 
then  fall  upon  such  passages  as  these,  "  Heai,  O  Israel, 
the  Lord   thy  God  is  one  Lord  ;  "    "  This  is  life  eternal, 
that  they  might  know  thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent ;"  "  To  us  there  is  but  one 
God,  the  Father,  and  one  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,"—  and  these 
are  specimens  of  innumerable  similar  declarations,— and 
what  judgment  could  he  form,  but  that  the  Bible  recognizes 


16  THE    FAITH    OF    THE    UNITARIAN    CHRISTIAN        126 

the  distinction  on  wliich  we  insist  between  Him  who  alone 
is  God  and  him  who  is  the  Mediator  between  God  and  man. 
We  stand  by  tlie  Bible,  and  the  Bible  stands  by  us.     We 
love  and  hcnor  the  Bible,  without  which  we  should  live  in 
darkness  and  die  as  the  Heathens  die.     Precious  volume  ! 
whose  meaning  the  wisest  cannot  exhaust,  yet  the  simplest 
may  comprehend ;  book  of  books  ;  treasure  of  treasures  ; 
source  and  summary  of  all  good  inttuenccs!     Never  may 
the  hour  come  when  we  shall  cease  to  cling  to  the  Bible ; 
for  then  shall  we  give  up  the  main  justification  of  our  faith, 
and  be  thrown  upon  a  fathomless  sea  of  doubt. 

We  adduce  the  testimony  of  our  nature,  as  in  ita  vari- 
ous elements  -  whether  we  consider  its  power  or  its  weak- 
ness-it proclaims  the  validity  of  our  interpretation  ol 
religious  truth;   and  we  cite  the    whole    instruction   of 
Scripture,  whether  contemplated  in  its  general  character 
or  examined  in  detail,  as  concurring  in  the  same  result. 
To  add  only  one  other  ground  of  confidence  m  the  opin- 
ions which  we  hold,  they  prove  their  title  to  the  estimation 
we  bestow  on  them  by  the  effects  which  they  have  produc- 
ed     It  may  not  become  us  to  cite  our  own  experience  on 
this  point,  -  to  speak  of  the  restraint  they  lay  upon  our 
passions,  the  stability  they  impart  to  our  principles,  or  the 
peace  with  which  they  fill  our  hearts.     We  cannot  press 
the  argument  in  this  form,  for  we  feel  how  unworthily  we 
have  used  the  grace  of  God  which  he  has  shown  m  bring- 
ing us  to  fche  knowledge  of  himself  through  his  dear  ^on. 
But  we  may  refer  to  those  who  have  lived  and  died  m  this 
precious   faith.     We  have  seen -the  world  has  seen - 
what  Unitarian  Christianity  can  do  for  man;  how  it  can 
inspire  him  with  a  Divine  energy,  and  clothe  him  in  a 
heavenly  grace,  and  prepare  him  for  a  glorious  futurity. 


IAN    CHRISTIAN 


126 


etween  Him  who  alone 
between  God  and  man. 
ble  stands  by  us.     We 
i^hich  we  should  live  in 
lie.     Precious  volume ! 
xhau3t,  yet  tbo  simplest 
treasure  of  treasures  ; 
ifluenccs !     Never  may 
c  to  cling  to  the  Bible ; 
iustification  of  our  faith, 

sea  of  doubt, 
r  nature,  as  in  its  vari- 
ier  its  power  or  its  weak- 
of  our  interpretation  of 
5   whole    instruction   of 
in  its  general  character 
rring  in  the  same  result. 
■  confidence  in  the  opin- 
eir  title  to  the  estimation 
which  they  have  produc- 
e  our  own  experience  on 
itraint  they  lay  upon  our 
t  to  our  principles,  or  the 
earts.     We  cannot  press 
e  feel  how  unworthily  we 
h  he  has  shown  in  bring- 
3€lf  through  his  dear  3on. 
mve  lived  and  died  in  this 
—  the  world  has  seen  — 
II  do  for  man  ;  how  it  can 
rgy,  and  clothe  him  in  a 
im  for  a  glorious  futurity. 


127         EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED,  AND  DISTINOUISIIED.  17 

There   have  been   examples   of  great  excellence  under 
almost  every  phase  of  belief  which  has  been  known  in  the 
Christian  Church  ;  for  they  have  all  included  enough  of 
truth  to  become  "  a  savour  of  life  unto  life"  to  them  who 
have  believed.     But  never  have  nobler  or  purer  examples 
of  the  Christian  character  been  witnessed,  than  have  arisen 
beneath  the  influences  of  that   "  form  of  sound  words" 
which  distinguishes  —  painful  rather  than  pleasant  it  is, 
to  say,  still  distinguishes  —  us.     From  the  days  of  the 
Apostles  to  our  own  time,  through  the  successive  periods 
of  Christian  history,  there  have  never  been  wanting  those 
who  have  been  confessors  of  this  faith,  worthy  to  be  num- 
bered amonnr  God's  elect.     Amidst   abundance   and   in 
poverty,  under  the  sunshine  of  prosperity  and  beneath  the 
darkest  night  of  adversity,  have  lived  those  who  hav-  illus- 
trated this  faith,  and  shown  its  power,  whether  to  protect 
or  to  support  the  soul.     Men  of  a  true  spiritual  nobility, 
and  women  of  a  heavenly  charm,  have  traced  all  that  was 
good  in  them,  and  all  that  was  beautiful,  to  their  confidence 
in  the  truths  of  Unitarian  Christianity.     They  who  have 
departed  in  peace,  or  have  triumphed  over  every  obstacle 
and  every  disaster,  have  drawn  from  this  armory  the  weap- 
ons with  which  they  have  achieved  the  last,  as  all  their 
previous  victories.     It  is  a  sad  mistake,  to  suppose  that 
only  persons  of  a  refined  or  speculative  turn  of  mind  can 
discover  in  this  system  of  faith  what  is  congenial  to  their 
tastes  or  needful  for  their  wants.     I  call  it  a  system,  let 
me  observe,  for  though  we  give  it  no  systematic  arrange- 
ment under  which  it  may   be  imposed  on  human  con- 
sciences, yet  such  an  arrangement  it  must  obtain  in  the 
mind  of  every  thoughtful  disciple.     But  not  to  men  of 
thou>'htful  or  retired  habits  alone  is  it  adapted.  The  hum- 
vol.  XIX.  —  NO.  220.  2* 


,„«   rAlT..   or   THE   UNITARIAN   CMiUrUN 


128 


homes,  and   He  ^^.^j'  ,%h„,„  ihe  mini«try-at-hrge 

.nctropolis  in  the  Uni  ed  S Ute     w  .^^^  ^^_^ 

has  searched  out  and  gathered  ..to the  ,o^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

attest  the  efficacy  of  these  ''•^'^^''"  , .    .^^J,,  ,,;  which 
„.he.  hand,  less  un^st  to. jne^^^^^ 

can  r^-^^-r''^'  Lmle..t  This  latter  ohjection,  you 
rorce  or  sp.r.tual  ^'^^  "  "^  »•  ^,^  fo,„er.  but  both  are 
will  perce.ve  .s  ;v«'^;»'-;  J^„^,  „,„  ,«  Soci..us  and 
contradicted  by  facts  ™^^^^,  „a  Wakefield  a..d 
Servetus.  New-  and  Loc^  ,,,.,,  ,.,ts  of 

Buckm.nster  and  C  um"  .. »  .^  ^  ^^,.  i,„  ,„,y 

an  unpopular  theology,  it  .s  luie  lo 

for  gross  or  indolent  n.inds.  .^     ^^.^^^^^ 

The  charge,  co.nmon  as  .t  ««•  ^"  „egative.or 

import,  which  stiga.at.ses  t ...  ^^^^^^^J^,^^,  i 
cold  belief,  is  utterly  false.     The  mo      P  ^^^^  .^ 

have  ever  '-«-' ^^ ,  ^^  J  ^    ^  ««'»  ^"'^  '"^^  " 
no  Con.mun.on  have  the  f  u  t s  oi  .  ^  ^^y  it 

.an  been  .ore  ^^^^^^ ^^^^X^^^^^^  ^f^^^' 
not  in  vain  boast.ng.  but   n  J"«^'^«  ^^        ^^  „fl.,,^  ^^at 

,h8  foil  con..»uon  of  tli  .  f""  ■  »"        ,    .    „,Ue<l».ll.ose 
.p,„,g,ofr,fo«.re»«nngou.  Wo,W,  ^^^_^^^^^^ 

;ho  "  know  in  «l.om  >l.e,  1  ad  >»  »™^  j„  ,„,  ,„„„. 

„i*  .he  beao.y  »' 'f'"^ 'l;!  ^^^  :     .S  ,,a,l  wUhsCood 

;^t::srr;:^-r,ifoo,,d.o.u,..,.uo 


AN  ciiiiisruN 


128 


EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED. 


19 


lalion,  vi\wm  Richard 
nsited  in    iheir   rural 
,  inhiibiiants  of  a  busy 
in  the  miuistry-ai-large 
the  fold  of  Christ.  <^«" 
lies.     Nor  ia  it,  on  ihe 
.  this  failh  as  one  whicli 
r,u9  of  little  intellectual 
l.is  latter  objection,  you 
lie  former,  but  both  are 
,ch  men  as  Socinus  and 
;slley  and  Wakefield  and 
cherished  these  tenetts  of 
to  call  it  a  reliijiou  only 

8,  and  certainly  of  grave 
a  superficial,  negative, or 
le  most  spiritual  people  I 
nder  its  infiuence,  and  in 
f  love  to  God  and  love  to 
Ithaninours;— wesay  it 

ilice  to  the  cause  of  truth. 
,  many  lips,  to  affirm  that 
1  men  may  be  prepared  to 
death  with  Christian  hope. 
,  gone  down  to  the  grave  in 
and  when  sensible  that  the 
have  calmly  waited  as  those 
believed."     Lives  adorned 
,e  been  closed  in  the  seren- 
racters  which  had  withstood 
3  been  found  more  than  able 


to  copo  with  the  surprise  and  terror  of  deatl<,  for  to  them 
dentil,  under  whatever  circumstances  it  kni'.y  have  op- 
proaciied,  has  brought  neither  terror  nor  surprise.  If  any 
one  ask  for  evidence  of  the  sufficiency  of  our  views  of  relig- 
ion for  all  the  exigencies  of  man  as  a  sinner  or  an  immortal 
being,  amidst  the  vicissitudes  of  an  earthly  condition  or  the 
nnticipation.s  of.  a  righteous  judgment,  we  may  point  him 
to  the  examples  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  whom  to  name 
would  in  the  one  case  be  superfluous,  and  in  the  other 
might  be  indelicate;  and  we  leave  to  his  own  mind  our 
vindication  from  the  groundless  charges  under  which  we 
labor. 

In  the  capacities  and  wants  of  human  nature,  in  the 
general  tone  and  express  declarations  of  Scripture,  and  in 
the  efft;cl3  produced  on  character  and  life,  we  discover 
reasons  for  accepting  Unitarian  Christianity  rather  than 
any  of  the  forms  of  religious  belief  which  prevail  around 
us.  Are  they  not  substantial  reasons  for  a  departure  from 
popular  persuasions  ?  Do  they  not  justify  us  in  maintain- 
ing separate  institutions  of  worship?  We  cannot  concur 
with  other  portions  of  the  Church  in  adopting  opinions 
which  they  regard  as  essential  to  the  vitality  of  the  Christ- 
ian faith.  Is  it  not  better,  then,  that  we  have  our  own 
religious  services,  in  which,  because  we  "  believe,"  we 
"speak  "  in  a  manner  which  must  be  unsatisfactory  to  them, 
than  that  we  should  be  in  continual  danger  of  giving  or 
taking  offence  from  the  want  of  sympathy  between  us  and 
our  fellow- worshippers?  While  we  affirm  that  the  essen- 
tial principles  of  religion,  the  great  and  vital  truths  of  the 
Gospel,  ara  held  in  common  by  us  and  various  other 
Christian  sects,  we  neither  mean  nor  wish  to  conceal  the 
differences  which  separate  us  from  them.    We  pronounce 


30  THE    FAITH   OF    THE    UNITARIAN    CIiniSTIAN         130 

then  difTercncos  important.  nn.1  we  believe  that  U.e  cause 
of  both  truth  and  charity  will  be  promoted  by  a  calm 
recognition  of  them.  In  what  remains  of  ih.n  d.scourse  I 
.hall  endeavor  to  present  those  differences  between  our- 
selves  and  others,  which  most  clearly  mark  our  pos.l.on  m 
the  community.  .   _ 

In  the  first  place,  then,  as  Unitarian  Chrisl.ans  wo  difTcr 
from  unbelievers  of  every  class  and  name  — m  our  doc- 
trine  concerning  Christ.     They   deny   his    supernatural 
mission,  if  not  his  moral  excellence.     We  believe  m  l>oth 
the  one  and  the  other.- in  the  perfection  of  h,s  character 
and  the  Divine  authority  of  his  teaching.     To  us  he  is 
the  representative  of  God,  speaking  in  his  name  and  re- 
fleeting  his  glory.     We  hold  it  to  be  our  privilege  to  sit  at 
the  feet  of  this  heavenly  Master  ;  accounting  it  a  higher 
office  to  listen  reverently  to  him.  than  to  occupy  the  proud- 
est  chair  of  philosophy  or  the  mo.t  despotic  throne  on 
earth      Unitarian  Christianity  has  no  affinity  with  unbe- 
lief.     They  belong  to  opposite  poles  of  experience.     Inh- 
delity   whatever  form  it  may  take,  from  the  coarseness  of 
the  scoffer  to  the  sophistry  of  the  skeptic,  meets  vvr.h  no 
favor  at  our  hands.     We  treat  it  justly,  as  we  would  treat 
everybody   and  everything,  be   it  man  or  devd.  error  or 
vice  ;  but  we  can  bestow  on  it  only  our  pity,  our  condem- 
nation,  or  our  counsel.     We  gratefully  accept  the  records 
of  the  Saviour's  life,  and  follow  him,  in  holy  admiration, 
from  Bethlehem  to  Calvary,  exclaiming  as  we  hearken  to 
his  words  —  "  this  is  one  who  speaks  as  having  authority ; 
as  wo  behold  his  wonderful  works,-"  who  could  do  these 
miracles,  except  God  were  with  him  ; "  and  as  we  gaze 
upon  his  last  suffering,-  "  truly  this  was  the  Son  of  God. 
We  will  not  be  seduced  from  our  faith  by  the  ingenious 


\S   CliniSTIAN 

(cIlcTo  thfitthe  cause 
promoted  by  a  calm 
no  of  ihifi  discourse  I 
"erenccs  between  otir- 
y  mark  our  position  in 

in  Christians  wc  differ 
d  name  —  in  our  doc- 
eny  his  supernatural 
We  believe  in  both 
BClion  of  his  character 
inching.  To  us  he  is 
'  in  his  name  and  re- 
e  our  privilege  to  sit  at 

accounting  it  a  higher 
in  to  occupy  the  proud- 
est despotic  throne  on 

no  affinity  with  unbe- 
!S  of  experience.     Infi- 

from  the  coarseness  of 

skeptic,  meets  wiih  no 
jslly,  as  we  would  treat 

man  or  devil,  error  or 
ly  our  pity,  our  condem- 
ifully  accept  the  records 
lim,  in  holy  admiration, 
liming  as  we  hearken  to 
ks  as  having  authority ;" 

«<  who  could  do  these 

lim;"  and  as  we  gaze 
his  was  the  Son  of  God." 
ir  faith  by  the  ingenious 


E.TPI.AINRD,  JUflTIFIED,  AND  niBTINaUIBIIEO. 


Ql 


theories  or  myNticiiI  discourse  of  some  who  affect  to  honor 
Jesus  while  they  throw  suspicion  over  his  whole  history. 
We  cannot  divorce  the  history  from  the  Divine  influence 
which  it  conveys.  Spiritual  Christianity  needs  historical 
Christianity  as  its  basis.  To  separate  the  former  from  the 
latter,  is  as  if  we  withdrew  from  the  lowers  and  spires  of  a 
lofty  cathedral  the  support  of  ihu  fuundalion  which  enables 
them  to  soar  upwards  in  their  graceful  beauty.  Of  coarser 
material  may  that  foundation  be  made  and  be  partly  buried 
in  the  earth,  liut  its  solid  btrenglh  upholds  the  walls  out  of 
which  those  lighter  creations  of  art  spring  towards  the 
skies.  So  must  the  loftiest  aspirations  of  faith  spring  from 
convictions  that  rest  on  the  firm  basis  of  liie  Gospel  history. 
Wo  repel  the  charge  of  promoting  or  countenancing  infi- 
delity. We  warn  those  whose  hearts  are  get  in  this  direc- 
tion, of  the  peril  they  run  j  we  entreat  those  who  have 
sought  this  as  a  refuge  from  superstition,  to  leave  it  for  the 
stronghold  of  a  Scriptural  faith  ;  and  shall  wc,  because  we 
cannot  join  in  heaping  opprobrious  terms  upon  the  unbe- 
liever or  in  pursuing  him  with  maledictions,  be  accused 
of  secret  agreement  wilh  him?  Our  language  is,  "  there 
is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men  where- 
by we  must  be  saved,"  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ ;  can 
the  most  unscrupulous  ingenuity  pervert  this  language  into 
a  symbol  of  unbelief? 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  Trinitarians  of 
every  Communion  —  in  our  doctrine  concerning  God. 
We  adopt  no  socli  expressions  as  "  Triune  God,"  "  blessed 
and  holy  Trinity,"  "  three  persons  in  one  God."  We  find 
no  such  expressions  in  the  Bible.  Tiiere,  as  I  have  said, 
we  read  only  of  the  Divine  unity.  We  do  not  meet  with 
aline  or  a  word  which  represents  Christ  as  sharing  supreme 


THK    FAITH    or    TH«    UNITAIIUN    CIIRIHTIAN 


132 


sn 

deity  wUb  the  Father.  Wc  do  n^V^-^^^  Vf  "I'';;;;:;,, 
in  h  ,n.  which  enable.!  him  to  eq-uvocntc  -tho      a  -or 
fice  of  truth,-*  mornl.  «nd  literal  .mpoHMh  hty    .    it 
no  T     We  «ay  with  all  confidence  ,hnt  the  doc.r.ne  of  the 
t1  ity  i«  eit'her  uninteiligible  or  -'f--;"»'"f  ^"'J' ^'^ 
It  in  either  ca,e  it  cannot  »-  ^  ""^'i-'-.^  ^^  "^  ^ 
We  do  not  heMtatc  to  pronounce  .t  mjur.ous  .n  .tselLc^ 
ri   devotion,   and   pernicious   in   its  connex.ou    w.h 

Irality.     We' trace  it.  '^^-y '-^/°  ^  "^i;:  7,  '^ 
an  impure  philosophy   with   the  pr.mU.vo   f..lh  of  the 
Churl  And  when  we  are  reminded  th«.  :>  -  •  •  .w  .nclud- 
ed  In  the  faith  of  nearly  all  Christendom,  we  answer,  first, 
at  if  the  truth  of  opiLns  be  determined  by  mapr.es 
Christianity  must  cower  before  P-K-^' '"V^J'     J^  ,"  . 
is„,  humble  itself  before  the  majesty  of  Rome     and  sec 
Idly    that  the  variety  of  explanations  wh.ch  have  been 
"     ;  bv  the  advocates  of  this  tenet  is  a  sufficent  proo 
I    the-  majority  of  the  Christian  Church  are  not  agreed 
n  any  interpretation,  and  since  we  cannot  find  U   n  the 
Bible'  we  may  at  least  defer  a  belief  in  it  till  they  whoe.- 
feem  .rso  important  have  decided  what  it  is  wh.ch  they 

^■'AVu^L't  Christians,  we  differ  from  all  of  the  Pres- 
byte:ian  or  Congregational  name  who  "dopt  CaWunsU 
standards  of  faith  -  in  our  doctrine  concernmg  man.  We 
r^pon  him  as  fallen  from  his  stateopr.mev^^ 

cence      Observation  and  consciousness  tell  us  that  he  .3 
cor«p^     But  not  by  nature.     We  cannot  shut  our  eye 
on  human  depravity,  but  we  can  believe  ne.ther  ,n  natura 
nor  in  total  depravity.  If  man  comes  into  life  w.th  a  nat.ue 
lolly  inclined    .  e.s  where  is  his  guilt  .n  oboy.ng  the 
lecelity  under  .V..:h  hois  placed  .fdomgevd       As 


A1  CIIBI"T1AN 


132 


198 


KXPLAINKU,  IVUTtHk.i),  AND  DirriNi^UIIHKO. 


98 


jiiil  of  a  tloublo  naltiro 
icalo  without  a  sacri- 
ral  imposBibilHy,  '»  '^ 
t,nt  the  doctrine  of  tho 
jelf-contrndictory,  and 
I  subject  of  revelation, 
injurious  in  its  elToctn 
a   its  connexion    with 
ck  to  tho  ndini-aare  fif 
primitive    f  ilh  of  the 
cdthnlit  >'  O'jw  includ- 
•ndom,  we  answer,  first, 
icrmincd  by  majorities, 
jnnism,  and  Protestant- 
sty  of  Rome;  and  sec- 
Uions  which  have  been 
jiiet  is  a  sufficient  proof 
I  Church  are  not  agreed 
we  cannot  find  it  in  the 
icfinittill  they  whoec- 
led  what  it  is  which  they 

iffer  from  all  of  the  Pres- 
e  who  adopt  Calvinistic 
me  concerning  man.  We 
lis  state  of  primeval  inno- 
iousness  tell  us  that  he  is 
We  cannot  shut  our  eyes 
believe  neither  in  natural 
mes  into  life  with  a  nature 
is  his  guilt  in  obeying  the 
laced  '^i  doing  evil  !     As 


.soon  should  I  think  f  nharginjf  guiil  on  the  mountains 
whose  bleak  sides  arc  by  the  ordinance  of  lliu  Creator 
smitten  with  the  desolation  of  ai  rilniu»t  perpetual  winu  r, 
because  thoy  do  not  exhibit  the  verdure  of  crly  spring. 
If  man  can  only  choose  and  commit  sin,  where  is  his  free- 
dom, or  where  his  responsiblcness  T  What  lolly  to  dpcak 
to  him  of  duly  I  What  injustice  to  pass  upon  him  a  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  !  I  cure  not  fur  nice  distinctions 
between  natural  and  moral  inability.  Inability  ist  inability, 
and  what  a  man  cannot  do,  it  is  worse  than  idle  to  require 
him  to  do.  If  the  dogma  of  natural  depravity  be  opposed 
to  common  sense,  tho  idea  of  total  depravity  is  irrecon- 
cilable with  facts.  There  is  not  a  being  on  earth  wlmllj 
depraved  —  without  any  good  in  him.  Nero,  demon  as 
he  was,  had  some  humanity  leA.  Vitellius,  beast  as  he 
was,  could  not  drown  his  whole  nature  in  sensuality. 
Neither  tho  cannibalism  of  New  Zealand,  nor  the  horrors 
of  the  French  revolution,  reveal  to  us  unmitigated  atrocity. 
In  the  worst  oi'  men  there  are  secret  qualities  that  need 
only  the  right  sort  of  collision  with  circumstances  to  bring 
them  out  to  our  adfniration,  as  from  the  hard  and  black 
flint  sparks  of  light  may  be  struck  by  the  proper  means. 
Man  is  a  sinner  —  call  him  so,  be  he  clothed  with  purple 
or  beg  in  rags;  and  sin  is  spiritual  suicide,  by  slower  or 
quicker  methods — so  describe  it,  whether  before  Ilcrod 
in  his  palace,  or  the  Pharisee  in  the  temple,  or  the  most 
abandoned  profligate  in  the  foulest  den  of  iniquity,  Call 
them  all  to  repent,  alike  by  the  mercies  and  the  terrors  of 
the  Lord.  «'  Cry  aloud,  spare  not,"  and  prove  yourself 
faithful  as  a  minister  of  God  to  guilty  mortals.  But  say 
not  iliat  man  is  only  vile.  Cotnmit  not  that  sacrilege,  for 
it  is  God's  work  which  you  abuse      See  in  that  wreck  of 


J 


THE    FAITH    OF    THE    UNITARIAN    CHRISTIAN 


134 


24 

humanity,  as  in  a  noble  ship  which  ihe  waves  have  swept 
till  it  looks  only  like  a  worthless  hulk,  much  which  is 
Bound,  enough  even  to  authorise  the  hope  that  it  may  be 
restored  to  its  former  bearing.  The  sinner  is  a  man,  and 
in  that  title  if  he  have  not  the  pledge  of  his  redemption,  he 
has  what  for  a  free  and  accountable  being  is  better,  the 
proof  of  its  possibility.  ,r  ..,i„,i 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  the  self-styled 
Orthodox  of  this  and  other  lands -in  our  doctrine  con- 
cerning  the  atonement.  We  believe  in  an  atonement,  and 
in  the  atonement;  in  an  atonement  needed  by  every  sin- 
ner    by  which  he  shall   be  reconciled  to  God,  and  in 
the 'atonement  of  which  Christ  is  the  instrument,  by  bring- 
inc  the  sinner  to  God,  that  he  may  be  forgiven  andjusU- 
fie'd      Nay,  more  ;  we  believe  that  the  atonement  was  the 
great  object  of  Christ's  mission,  even  as  he  said  «'  the  Son 
of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost, 
and  that  in  this  purpose  we  find  the  solution  of  the  mys- 
tery  which  overhangs  his  cross.     But  we  cannot  -  and  we 
thank  God  that  we  do  not-believe  in  a  vicarious  atonenient 
which  would  subvert  our  notions  of  justice,  and  teach  us 
to  look  upon  the  Heavenly  Father  as  an  Infinite  Despot 
We  must  use  strong  language  on  this  point.     \\  e  reject 
with  abhorrence  a  doctrine  which  de.poils  the  Divuie  char- 
acter of  its  glory,  and  takes  from  the  Divine  law  Us  most 
urgent  sanctions.     We  can  call   that  a  gracious  Provi- 
dence  which  hides  instruction  beneath  chastisement,  but 
we  cannot  call  that  a  revelation  of  grace  which  shows  us 
the  Sovereign  of  the  universe  refusing  forgiveness  to  con- 
trite  offenders  except  on  conditions  which  they  are  utterly 
unable  to  fulfil,  yet   which   are  held  to  be  fulfilled  by  a 
technical  evasion  that  would  be  sanctioned  by  no  court  of 


AN    CHRISTIAN 


134 


125         EXPLAINED,  JUSTIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED.  25 


the  waves  have  swept 
hulk,  much  which  is 
10  hope  that  it  may  be 
5  sinner  is  a  man,  and 
5  of  his  reJemption,  he 
le  being  is  belter,  the 

fer  from  the  self-styled 
-in  our  doctrine  con- 
t  in  an  atonement,  and 
t  needed  i>y  every  sin- 
iciled  to  God,  and  in 
e  instrument,  by  bring- 
y  be  forgiven  andjusti- 
ihe  atonement  was  the 
3n  as  he  said,  "  the  Son 
e  that  which  was  lost," 
ihe  solution  of  the  mys- 
ut  we  cannot  —  and  we 
in  a  vicarious  atonement 
of  justice,  and  teach  us 
x  as  an  Infinite  Despot. 
I  this  point.     We  reject 
lespoils  the  Divine  char-, 
the  Divine  law  its  most 
that  a  gracious  Provi- 
neath  chastisement,  but 
)f  grace  which  shows  us 
using  forgiveness  to  con- 
ns which  they  are  utterly 
held  to  be  fulfilled  by   a 
lanctioned  by  no  court  of 


justice  in  the  civilized  world.  Our  doctrine  of  ihe  atone- 
ment is  a  doctrine  of  parental  love  ;  the  popular  doctrine 
of  the  atonement,  if  it  were  not  connected  with  the  Divine 
Name,  we  should  describe  as  a  doctrine  of  cunning  tyr- 
anny. Such,  I  am  constrained  to  say,  painful  as  is  the 
association,  is  the  light  under  which  it  seems  to  me  to 
present  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I 
know  that  this  dogma  is  set  forth  as  the  sinner's  only 
ground  of  hope.  Strange  affirmation  !  And  yet  stranger 
blindness,  that  cannot  see  the  invitation  of  a  free  mercy 
illuminating  every  page  of  the  New  Testament.  Mercy, 
oh !  how  much  needed  by  man,  how  freely  exercised  by 
God  I  Let  not  the  condition  of  man  be  mistaken  by  the 
sinner,  let  not  the  character  of  God  be  misrepresented  by 
the  theologian. 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Communion  —  in  our  doctrine  respect- 
ing authority  in  matters  of  religion.  The  principle  to- 
wards which  all  the  ideas  of  the  Roman  Catholic  gravi- 
tate, is  the  Church.  It  is  to  this  ihat  he  adheres  with  most 
tenacity,  for  in  giving  up  this  bethinks  he  gives  up  every- 
thing. As  he  reduces  this  principle  to  practice,  he  makes 
the  Church  the  infallible  interpreter  of  Scripture  and  ex- 
pounder of  truth.  The  Church  is  the  ultimate  authority, 
whom  it  is  fatal  sin  to  disobey  or  distrust.  Here.sy  there- 
fore (which  is  only  dissent  from  the  Church)  becomesim  - 
piety,  and  may  be  punished  as  spiritual  treason.  Now  we 
believe  in  the  Church ;  but  it  is  the  Church  of  the  saints 
who  are  compacted  into  one  body  "  by  that  which  every 
joint  supplieth,"  and  not  the  hierarchy  who  are  only  mem- 
bers in  the  body.  We  believe  in  no  infallibility  residing 
on  earth,  because  we  say, —  making  a  statement  iu  moral 

VOL.  XIX.  —  NO.  220.  3 


36  THB    FAITH    OP   THE    UNITARIAN    CHHISTIAN         126 

arithmetic   which   any  child  can  ""'^^"^f"'''-;^;*  ^^ 
aggregation  of  fallible  judgments  can  make  an  mfalhbk 
Se      We  protest   again.t  this   claim   of  the  Romi  h 
C  irch      It  is  her  cardinal  vice.     We  might  bear  wuh 
h^ler  errors  ;  but  this  assumption  of  the  attributes  of 
the  Most  High,  with  all  the  terrible  con-quences  which 
it  involves,  we  may  not  regard  even  with  patience.     I 
invades  thL  sanctuary  of  man's  freedom,  -d  scales  the 
hrone  of  God's  sovereignty.     It  has  but  one  word  to  ex- 
press  the  conditions  of  eternal  life  ;  and  that  is,  .uW-- 
!ubmit  to  the  Church  in  its  interpretation  of  truth  and  it 
declaration  of  duty.   This,  with  God's  grace,  we  will  never 
do      We  will  submit,  not  t.  the  Church,  bn  to  h.m  who 
isthe  Head  of  the  Church,  and  tho  o.ly  .{^ritual  Head 
hom  its  members  should  acknowledge.     Christ  has  c.l'- 
IduTto  liberty,  not  to  bondage.     He  has  taught  uswhat 
o   believe,  and  on  us  lies  the  responsibleness  of  con- 
struing  hi3  instructions  in  their  right  sense.     We  can 
no  man  nor  body  of  men  frame   a  creed  for  us     It  .8 
not  the  right  of  private  judgment  alone,  which  we  defend 
It  is  the  rfu^y  of  private  judgment,  which  we  dare  not 
neglect.     We  must  think  and  read  for  ourselves.     If  we 
mistake  the  meaning  of  the  written  word,  on  our  souls  will 
lie  the  peril.     It  a  fearful  responsibleness  which  is  com- 
mitted to  us.     We  know  this- we  hope  we  feel  it      If 
we  suffer  ourselves  to  be  warped  by  passion  or  prejudice, 
by  self-will  or  self-interest,  we  shall  stand  condemned. 
But  if  we  use  no  means  of  ascertaining  "  the  mind  of  the 
spirit,"    except  as  we  passively  yield  to  others"   dictation 
ve  shall  incur  still  heavier  guilt.     We  are  the  Lord  s  free- 
men, and  how  can   we  be  called  loyal  to  him  so  long  as 
we  enter  into  voluntary  servhude  to  any  other  master  ] 


>ii»ili  laiiiiiiKiUmmiwii  wiiMMi'i'"' 


IIAN    CHRISTIAN 


126 


understand, —  that  no 
can  make  an  infallible 
claim    of  the  Romish 
We  might  bear  with 
tion  of  the  attributes  of 
ale  consequences  which 
even  with  patience.     It 
freedom,  and  scales  the 
has  but  one  word  to  ex- 
1 ;  and  that  is,  submit  — 
iretation  of  truth  and  its 
od's  grace,  we  will  never 
Church,  b.u  to  him  who 
1  the  only  apiritual  Head 
wledge.     Christ  has  caH- 
He  has  taught  us  what 
responsibleness  of  con- 
right  sense.    We  can  let 
3   a  creed   for  us.     It  is 
I  alone,  which  we  defend, 
ment,  which  we  dare  not 
read  for  ourselves.     If  we 
ten  word,  on  our  souls  will 
onsibleness  which  is  com- 
-  we  hope  we  feel  it.     If 
d  by  passion  or  prejudice, 
!  shall  stand  condemned, 
irtaining  "  the  mind  of  the 
yield  to  others'  dictation, 
t.     We  are  the  Lord's  free- 
lied  loyal  to  him  so  long  as 
de  to  any  other  master  ? 


127        EXPLAINED,  Jl/STIFIED,  AND  DISTINGUISHED.         27 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  the  adherents 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  —  in  our  doctrine  concerning 
the  ministry.     We  are  far  from  denying  the  need  of  a  sep- 
arate order  of  men  who  ishall  give  themselves  to  study  and 
preaching,  that  they  may  be  able  to  convince  the  gainsayer 
and  instruct  and    exhort    the    believars.      We  perceive 
that  such  a  class  as  the  clergy  are  demanded  by  the  situ- 
ation of  the  Church  in  the  midst  of  the  world,  as  well  as 
by  its  internal  wants,  and  we  doubt  not  that  the  ministry 
was  intended  by  Christ   to  be  perpetual.     But  we  look 
with  no  respect  on  the  claims  which  are  advanced  in  be- 
half of  the  clergy  of  a  particular  church  over  other  minis- 
ters.    We  find  it  difficult  to  express  our  amazement  at 
the  effrontery  of  a  church,  which,  itself  a  fragment  of  the 
universal  Church  and  a  secession  from  a  larger  fragment, 
presumes  to  consider  the  ministers  of  other  portions  as  in- 
truders  into  the  sacred  office.     It  would  be  ridiculous,  if 
it  were  not  insolent.  We  do  not  call  in  question  the  claims 
of  thr  English  Church  to  the  admiration  of  its  members, 
for  if  they  find  in  its  liturgy  or  discipline  what  enkindles 
their  admiration,  we  would  not  let  our  preference  for  a 
simpler  worship  lead  as  to  forget  the  original  diversity  of 
mental  wants  ;  but  to  admit  her  argument,  drawn  from 
Scripture,  in  favor  of  the  three  orders,  or  her  argument, 
not  drawn  from  Scripture  nor  from  any  other  source  ex- 
cept  fancy,  in  favor  of  the  Apostolical  succession,  is  what 
we  cannot  do  without  surrendering  our  common  sense. 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination  —  in  our  doctrine  concerning  ordinances. 
The  ordinances  we  value.  They  are  beautiful  symbols 
and  efficacious  means.     We  prize  them,  and  use  them. 


Ml  -Jiifffl  ■  -  •"••- ' "' "-"^J--'  'i^^-* 


as  THE    FAITH    OF   THE    UNITARIAN    CUK.8T.AN 

importance.     Ana  w  pvcellent  people  to  raise 

sion  which  causes  .ntelhgent  and  excellent  i     H 

ta  „ol  .»8i»ient  to  ..y,  .h»t  compliance  »''\'  ''"  "  ° 

S.-  L«  b  a,  ,hc  consuucio.  .hich  .  p..  upon 
r  W  *e  n,e.|.e,.  or  "H.  — --;  X:^ 

cr;o„_io  o„,  jo-'-'-^Tetr'Trco: 

""'; ^eCl-  ngerorttn.,  and  .b.. .he,  should 

11  e  ■,„  '    s  e    L  this  ,h.»  in  ...y.hing  el.e,  bcc.ase 
be  more  mlereslM  in  earne.lness  end 

*•»  »  '"r™:  'ifS      h  id  uTde  .he  rcrain.  of  prin- 
f„,„,  '7''82' '"';'J,''  , '„,  ,,.e  „„.  .,  mocb  of  .hese 

r:rc=d:,^ht:en;rcon.i..inexcue,„e„., 

!™ Mat .«  be.,  beginning  i.  made  to  a  .empe..  of  feelmg. 
"we t  »«  ^»e.e  that  Ood  .akea  .he  .oul  h,  ..em.     A 


IIAN    CHRISTIAN 


128 


iger  to  exaggerate  their 
y  uiulerstand  the  delu- 
xcellent  people  to  raise 

of  a  means,  into  aeon- 
should  as  soon  think  of 
ironunciation  indispen- 
ffices  on  a  journey.  It 
liance  with  the  letter  of 

first  importance;  be- 
i  whether  .he  words  of 
ction  which  is  put  upon 
enominatiou,  it  shows  a 
e  genius  of  our  religion 

care  more  for  the  letter 
,g.  It  might  be  difficult 
reater  mistake  in  his  use 

allegorizer. 

differ  from  the  Methodist 
ncerning  religious  excite- 
jxcitement.  On  the  con- 
ild  be  interested  in  relig- 
Tient,  and  that  they  should 

in  anything  else,  because 

Wc  like  earnestness  and 

under  the  restraint  of  prin- 

3  have  not  as  much  of  these 

hould  have.  Our  aversion 
iven  us  towards  the  other, 
ion  consists  in  excitement, 
lade  in  a  tempest  of  feeling, 
akes  the  soul  by  storm.     A 


129       EXI'LAINED,    JU8T1FIKD,    AND    DISTINGUISHED.         29 

change  of  heart  is  not  the  work  of  an  hour,  as  you  may 
change  the  course  of  a  stream  by  digging  across  a  belt  of 
ground  which  has  turned  its  waters  from  a  straight  chan- 
nel. Rather  as  the  torrent  which  has  been  dashing  down 
the  hills  and  exhibiting  the  wildest  disorder  m  its  des- 
cent gradually  subsides  into  the  stream  which  flows 
quietly  in  a  broader  and  deeper  current  through  the  fields, 
so  the  impetuous  and  disorderly  passions  are  gradually 
subdued  into  a  tranquil  and  useful  character.  We  doubt 
the  value  of  those  occasions  of  which  so  much  use  is  m=de, 
to  convert  the  sinner  by  the  force  of  sympathy.  Regener- 
ation, as  we  understand  it,  is  a  secret  work,  and  often  of 
slow  growth,  though  its  results  be  great  and  manifest. 
We  dislike  mechanical  methods,  as  we  distrust  stereotyped 

evidences  of  religion. 

As  Unitarian  Christians,  we  differ  from  the  Universal- 
ist  body  —  in  our  doctrine  concerning  retribution.    They 
a<rree  with  us  in  regard  to  »he  supremacy  and  sole  deity  of 
the  Father ;  and  many,  doubtless,  believe  that  the  effects 
of  transgression  will  extend  beyond  this  life.     But  a  still 
larger  number,  probably,  hold  that  sin  entails  no  conse- 
quences after  death,  while  all  who  adopt  this  name  find 
the  peculiar  glory  of  the  Gospel  in  the  promise  of  a  final 
restoration  of  all  men  to  virtue  and  happiness.     Now, 
while  there  are  different  shades  of  opinion  among  us  as  to 
the  future  state  of  the  wicked,  no  one,  I  presume,  would 
adduce  the  ultimate  salvation  of  the  whole  human  race 
as  the  great  revelation  of  Christianity,  and  all  of  us  would 
reject  any  statement  of  belief  which  excluded  the  idea  of 
future  retribution.     To  us  the  doctrine  which  limits  the 
consequences  of  a  sinful   life  to  our  present  existence, 
VOL.  XIX.  —  NO.  220.  3* 


THE    FAITH    OF    THE    UNITARIAN    CHRISTIAN 


130 


30 

appears  equally  unpl.UoBophical  and  unscrlptural     It  over- 

deplore.  ^^^^^^TT;:;^^^'  and  e.U,eat 

:^ :  irrid  toJL':.^...^^.^.  ^ntho  wona . 

w;h  he  raoing.  to  turn  from  hU  evil  ways  and  cleanse 

lutid  1    o^^^^^^       on  which  he  «hall  there  enter, 
must  aeciue  ""=  i  f  we  have  chosen 

.<,  1,„  wlhou.  «"''»"'■",„,  ^  „a  .1,  „,l,er  tecrip- 
'"'Te^ewTh  we  :  eotL  lot  ot  .h,  ™p.ni. 
rVr„,  «=..,!.  ™>.™l  i".«g-do  bu.  find,  «p,e- 
:".' lp.ra.Tlo»  and   ang,ush,  and   a.  «,...„   -  « 

r„iri.  or  '^;:^::-:::x.:rz'^ 

„f  .he  differencea  bel«eei.  M  and  our  Tellow 

"rTTnat  would  be  a  fa-  ".o-o  agreeable  u.k,  for 

Si  have    oru.ne,.o  por.ray  tbe  features  of  common 
«h,ch  I  have  not,        ^     I  ^  ^^^^  ^^^^.^^  ^^^  ^j 

rt  T»  when  shaking  of  .boa.  Uuth,  wWcb  we 


AN    CHRISTIAN 


130 


unscriptural.    It  over- 
I,  and  tortures  the  lan- 
,ich  only  the  greatest 
;i9  influence  we  should 
ieprecaie.    We  reason 
to  come,"  and  entreat 
iuffering  in  the  world  to 
i  evil  ways  and  cleanse 
all  bear  into  that  world 
;h  he  shall  there  enter, 
er.     If  we  have  chosen 
inot  dwell  in  the  joy  of 
leyond  all  other  descrip- 
■  the  lot  of  the  impeni- 
ges  do  but  faintly  repre- 
•  and   as   certain   as  is 
make  the  experience  of 
erience  follows  from  the 
ced  by  the  warnings  and 

It,  though  necessary  de- 
ween  us  and  our  fellow 
more  agreeable  task,  for 
yr  the  features  of  common 
ated  in  the  earlier  part  of 
of  those  truths  which  we 
desiring  to  confine  to  our- 
re  held  by  us  in  common 
those  who  take  the  same 
his  cause.'     And  in  this 
portions  of  tiie  Church,  of 


131        EXPLAINED,    JUSTIFIED,    AND    DISTINGUISHED.  31 

the  truths  on  which  we  lean,  do  we  find  an  argument  to 
increase  our  confidence  in  them  as  the  only  essential 
truths  of  Christianity,  —  so  plain  that  they  cannot  be 
mistaken,  so  important  that  few,  or  none  have  been  able 
to  deny  them  a  place  in  their  theology.  There  is,  how- 
ever, one  example  of  agreement  between  us  and  other 
Christians,  which  I  am  anxious  to  notice,  as  presenting 
yet  one  other  difference  which  we  would  press  on  the 
consideration  of  those  from  whom  it  distinguishes  us.  In 
this  instance  they  from  whom  we  differ  are  not  Christians 
except  in  name.  Perhaps  we  are  no  more.  Then  God 
forgive  us  !  for  we  ought  to  be  immeasurably  more.  And 
this  is  what  I  wish  to  say  ;  —  that  as  Unitarian  Christians, 
we  difTer  from  the  irreligious  of  every  class,  whether  they 
be  the  openly  immoral  or  such  as  immerse  themselves  in 
the  cares  of  the  world,  the  profane  or  the  thoughtless  — 
in  our  doctrine  concerning  righteousness.  For  we  hold 
that  this  is  the  one  thin^^  needful,  and  that  whatever  else 
a  man  risks  or  loses,  he  must  not  let  go  the  integrity  of 
his  soul ;  which  he  can  keep  only  by  strenuous  obedience 
to  every  law  of  the  outward  and  inward  life.  A  man  is 
not  true  to  himself,  nor  faithful  to  Christ,  nor  thankful 
to  God,  who  does  not  purify  himself  from  sin,  and  conse- 
crate both  body  and  soul  to  the  execution  of  the  Divine 
will. 

We  preach  a  doctrine  of  righteousness  which  covers  all 
human  relations,  and  penetrates  to  the  inmost  recesses  of 
our  being.  It  is  not  a  superficial  propriety,  nor  a  conven- 
tional rectitude  which  we  demand,  but  thorough,  genuine 
goodness.  A  man  must  be  filled  with  this  goodness,  just 
as  the  tree  is  pervaded  from  its  root  and  its  heart  to  its 


-,:i 
'S 


SB  ^„C    rA,TH    OP    THE    «N.TAH,.N    CHU.«T.AN         132 

.  .     1       -.-1  fl..wl      The  life  which  is  in 
he  «ho  bear,  the  closesl  P"»-™  ,  „„ 

r  r.n-r::  'si:"  u  i^ete^.  p..  ..  - 

::;  J    are  they  who  do  hunge,  and  t^^'^-^^- "f,^  T, 
oules.   for  they  Bhall  be  filled."   They  «' ^hall  be  filled 
buThoJe  who  do  not  desire  this,  their  great  good  w.th  an 

Uine  upon  our  hearts  we  are  almost  ready  to  say,  let 

o"hers  discourse  of  the  future,  for  here  we  have  a  theme 

!  !nH  and  vast  that  it  exceeds  all  our  powers  to  treat 

Uw    ttily     >^  h  this  doctrine  let  Unitarian  ChristianUy 

go  1  fhe  world  and  entreat  and  adjure  men  to  turn 


IAN    CHRISTIAN         i32 

Tho  life  which  is  in 
nelrate  and  vivify  our 
Briencc,  we  do  but  par- 

not  whole  men  in  our 
B  and  complete  man  is 
resemblance  to  Christ. 
j8,  or  they  who  pursue 

all  they  need  think  of, 

being's  end  and  aim- 

and  the  great  benefit  of 
n  to  them.  When  we 
not  mean  that  which  is 
rehensive.  How  can  a 
himself  in  just  relations 
arc  more  important  than 
her  beings?     Righteous- 

includes  piety  not  less 
r  not  less  than  the  beha- 
our  Lord,  when  he  said, 
■I  and  thirst  after  righte- 

They  "  ^^ball  be  filled  ;  " 
,  their  great  good,  with  an 
ng  man  for  food,  </Ky  shall 
mpty  of  that  which  alone 
of  the  real  life.  This  is 
esent ;  and  with  this  doc- 

almost  ready  to  say,  let 
for  here  we  have  a  theme 
ids  all  our  powers  to  treat 
B  let  Unitarian  Christianity 
t  and  adjure  men  to  turn 


133      EXPLAINED,    JUSTIFIED,    ANU    DISTINOUISHED. 


33 


from  the  idols  which  their  own  hearts  have  set  up  in  the 
secret  places  of  their  worship,  to  Him  whom  those 
hearts  should  confess  and  adore  and  love.  Let  it  go 
into  the  world  with  ihis  doctrine,  and  let  the  commen- 
tary be  furnished  by  us  in  the  growing  holiness  of  our 
lives,  and  our  faith  will  leap  from  crag  to  crag  of  soci- 
ety, and  dart  down  into  its  lowly  coverls,  and  bathe  iU 
whole  expanse  with  a  divine  influence,  even  as  the  morn- 
ing I'gbt  glances  and  spreads  and  rests  over  the  whole 
landscnpe. 

We  have,  within  such  limits  as  the  time  permits  and 
prescribes,  considered  the   questions  which  we   proposed 
to  answer,  —  having  endeavored  to  exhibit  the  truths  of 
Unitarian  Christianity,  the  grounds  of  our  preference  of 
this  over   other   systems  of   faiih,    and    the   differences 
which   distinguish   its  disciples  from  other  considerable 
portions  of  the  community.     The  result  must  be,  to  con- 
vince every  candid  hearer  that  we  have  a  positive  faith  — 
a  faith   full  enoug.i,  plain  enough,  authoritative  enough 
for  all  the  purposes  for  which  a  religious  faith   can  be 
needed.     We  "  believe,  and  therefore  speak."     Our  pro- 
fession of  Unitarian   Christianity  is  the  fruit  of  an  intel- 
ligent and  cordial  reception  of  its  truths.    W^e  believe  that 
these  truths  constitute  "  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  bles- 
sed God,"  and  therefore  we  give  utterance  to  the  convic- 
tions with   which  our   minds  are   laden.     Believing,  we 
ought  to  speak.    Silence  under  such  conviciions  would  be 
in<Tratitude  towards  God  and   unfaithfulness  towards  man. 
It  would  be  a  violation   of  solemn  trusts   and  neglect  of 
sacred  interests.     It  is  our  duty  to  diffuse  the  opinions 
which  we  think  just  to  God  and  beneficial  to  man.     By 


,„.    KMTH    or    THE    CMTAKUN    CHH.«TIAN 


134 


.He  speech  of  the  r.p«  an.  U.e  e'o.ue"ce  o  he  cW  c.r 
.J.  we  procla-..  ;^-'  ^J^:  ^.h^l"  unpopular 
^«^^°"^  'ttrar     0     -vltions  worth,  if  they  wili 

WhHti.  our  attachment  U.  ^'^  -,  ' 'f',  ,  ,,HUude  1 
sustain  u.  in  conf^onimg  ^^^.P^^^fj^^j  „„,  afraid  to 
He  is  the  true  heliever.  who  .8  "°^  J*^"^;    ^^^  ^^-^^  he 

let  U  he  ^--'^l^^..  ir-rto^not  com.end 

basin  fact  taken  \^'' ;'T ,^a  ^anly  and  Christian 
abu^ypr-lytisn.    but  .a    .   and  -n.y  ^^  ^^^^^^^  .^ 

adherence  to  our  ^-^.^  ^  '  J^^^uh  self-respect  in 
the  course  wh.chw.sepol^^y^^^  disown,  bigotry  we 
urging  U9  to        pt.     °     H  ^^^^j^  and  free- 

.bhor,  and  affectation  «  /«Jf  .^^^^^^  and  deed, 
do.  and  holiness  we  w  1  ^P-"^;;  ;;;„,,,„,  ^ave  then 
The  society  who  have  ^'^^'■'  brought  to  a 

done  well,  in  the  work  which  tb^y  b-e  "«  J    ^^  .^ 

completion  .0..  ^^^  "j;^'     , fT^;^^^^  accepta- 

a  Jay  of  rejoicing  with  the--  J'^-^J  ,h  this 

ble  sacrifice  can  they  for  the  hrst  t.         vv 

altar  .ban  the  joy  and  ^^^  ^^J J't  ts^c^^^^^^  beau- 
edifice  which  they  have  raseda^^^       ^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^ 

ty,  ti  monument  of  their  f  "''°,,...^,  „f  ^ Scriptural 

And  »o»  «l>a.  «.na.n.  1""  ""^  "'  °f ';,  ,    t„  religion 

.„d  iu  u,e»  we  -"'f «;  "^'°  *;;  chri..i.ni.,  and  i.. 
Ihe  one  living  unJ  ""'  """• 


AN    CHRISTIAN 


134 


135       KXPLAINED,    JUSTIFIED,    AND     DIHTINUUIHUKD. 


35 


jeiice  of  the  character 
en.     And  all  the  more 
J  embraced  unpopular 
,08  worth,  if  they  will 
istofthe  martyr  cpirill 
,   worth,  if  it  will   not 
jdico  of  the  multitude  ] 
I  ashamed  nor  afraid  to 
i8cd  the  cause  which  ho 
I  would  not  commend 
id  manly  and  Christian 
pposition  or  obloquy  is 
nites  with  self-respect  in 
,  we  disown,  bigotry  we 
) ;  but  for  truth  and  free- 
in  word  and  deed. 
i  this  building  have  then 
ey  have  now  brought  to  a 

n  than  their  hopes.     It  w 
(,a  with  no  more  accepta- 
Srat  time  approach  this 
\e  which  they  feel.     The 
Btands,  in  its  chaste  beau- 
ions  to  secure  for  them- 
pportunities  of  a  Scriptural 
ed  in  the  reference  to  the 
e  placed  over  its  entrance. 
It  we  dedicate  this  house  to 
its  builders  t     To  religion 
to  the  worship  and  glory  of 
1.    To  Christianity  and  its 


influences  we  dedicate  it  —  to  the  cxpoaition  and  enforce- 
ment of  that  Qospei  which  is  the  rule  of  life  and  the 
charter  of  salvation.  To  the  well-being  of  man  we  ded- 
icate it —  in  his  prepartttinn  for  the  duties  of  this  life  and 
the  enjoyment  of  the  life  to  come.  To  truth  and  love 
and  pence  we  dedicate  it,  and  invito  them  to  dwell  within 
its  walls  as  the  guardians  of  its  sanctity.  To  holy  prayer 
wc  dedicate  it;  to  religious  instructicm  wc  dedicate  it; 
to  sacred  song  we  dedicate  it.  Here  may  devotion 
breathe  its  sublimest  hopes,  and  wisdom  uttci  its  chniceet 
counsels,  and  music  pour  forth  its  sweetest  strains.  Mere 
may  our  friend  long  be  permitted  to  refresh  his  spirit  in 
the  labors  of  the  sanctuary.  Long  may  this  memorial  of 
Christian  zeal  stand,  to  gather  many  into  the  sympathies  of 
fraternal  union.  As  in  tranquil  dignity  it  looks  down  upon 
the  crowded  ways  of  life  at  its  feet,  may  it  seem  to  speak 
of  a  higher  and  calmer  existence.  Here  may  an  influ- 
ence begin,  that  shall  be  extended  through  the  city,  the 
neighborhood,  the  province,*in  which,  in  respect  to  the 
peculiar  character  which  we  have  seen  to  belong  to  this 
house,  it  now  stands  alone;  an  influence  that  shall  be- 
come deeper  as  well  as  wider  with  every  year  of  its  exer- 
cise. We  enjoy  the  smile  of  Heaven  upon  our  work  of 
to-day  in  the  bland  sunshine  which  has  soAcned  every 
unfriendly  element  of  the  season.  Let  us  interpret  it  as 
the  promise,  in  our  spiritual  husbandry,  of  a  fruitful  sum- 
mer and  an  abundant  harvest.  May  souls  here  grow  into 
a  ripeness  for  a  better  world.  As  the  Father  shall  here 
be  worshipped  and  the  Son  be  honored,  may  the  spirit  of 
grace  from  the  Father  and  the  Son  descend  in  unseen 
influences,  that  shall  not,  like  the  visible  flames  on  the 
first  Christian  Pentecost,  cease  to  rest  upon  the  brethren 


,„.    rA.TH    or    THE    UN.TAB.AN    C.m.^T.AM. 


136 


86       

f   -,   ttiA  Dlace  of  their  nsscmWing. 
at  their  departure  from   »^«.  P'""°  „,,„„«  «haH  give 

And  when  in  ti.c  ca««e  '^^ ^^^e'  ^  ^  '''"''''''^'''' 
may  iU  h»tory  be  •"'•'«^«^*»  ^^^^^  those  who  shall 
e.«He  its  --«-^;';"";    :    f  „„,  „,„de  with  hands. 

»'""  f "  Tllllr     rther  Ahni^htyl  hear  thou 
eternal  in  the  heavens.  .p^  ^^.^e,  m  the 

our  desires,  and  grunt  them  fulfilme  t-      I 

and  thine  the  richer  glory  of  the.r  decay 


IAN    Clini^TIAM. 

e  of  their  nBHcmbling. 
his  structure  shall  give 
of  iimpler  dimension*, 

a»s.>ciation»  that  shall 
.  wilh  those  who  shall 

not  made  with  hands, 
r  Almighty!  hear  thou 
iment.  To  thee,  in  the 
•crnte  these  walls,  these 
ory  of  their  fresh  beauty 
sir  decay  1 


'.'SW^PWF*''^'* 


